Anders is MAGA. Vote Valentine.
Anders. You’ve probably seen his blue yard signs. But he’s not blue. He’s MAGA Republican red. Extreme far right red.
S. Chris Anders loves Donald Trump so much he co-sponsored legislation to change the name of West Virginia’s tallest mountain, Spruce Knob, to Trump Mountain.
He continuously refuses to approve any increases in public school funding. He votes NO on state budgets because he says the budget should never be increased. What about inflation, Chris? Schools are facing the same higher costs in electricity, gasoline and supplies that we all face.
He voted Yes on HB2014, the law that created the silver platter for data center developers to build their monstrosities all over our West Virginia farmlands. He flip-flopped that vote, saying his Republican colleagues ‘promised’ to fix the bill before final passage.
But those Republican colleagues don’t even pay attention to him. They don’t even like him. They just brushed him aside on the data center vote.
In fact, he was thrown off the Jefferson County Republican Executive Committee in a 7-1 vote. You can still read the article about that online (Martinsburg Journal, Nov. 14, 2014). Those Republicans called Anders “irresponsible,” “deceitful,” and said he spread “misinformation.” It seems Anders hasn’t changed.
He brags about disrupting the legislature. At a town hall in Charles Town last December, Anders said, “There’s two ways to get things done in politics. One is you negotiate… Or two is confrontation. And that’s when we just start gumming up their bills as best we can.”
No wonder Republicans don’t like him.
Anders also said, “I haven’t met a government agency that I don’t want to cut.”
The highway department? Our Department of Environmental Protection to protect our streams and drinking water? The state agencies that protect children?
Anders last month wrote homophobic posts on social media, even publishing the photo of a 2-year-old child without her parent’s permission, attacking the free speech of a Jefferson County resident. When the girl’s Mom asked Anders to remove the photo, he did not. So much for the protection of personal rights that he preaches about.
Anders has publicly supported Chris Clagett of Berkeley County for the House of Delegates. Clagett has admitted to social media posts making abhorrent comments about black women and other minorities.
In my 97th District there is a superb candidate to replace MAGA Anders.
Lucia Valentine has lived in the Eastern Panhandle all her life. She’ll work hard with legislators of both parties for locality pay for teachers, troopers and school workers, local control over data centers and making the state better for accessible childcare.
Lucia has been endorsed by impressive organizations. Among them: the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber usually endorses Republicans. What does that tell you about S. Chris Anders?
Lucia has also been endorsed by the WV State Medical Association, Conservation West Virginia, the Berkeley Co. Education Association, Building & Construction Trades, WV Association for Justice, Communication Workers of America, WV AFL-CIO, and the United Mine Workers.
Lucia Valentine knows the legislature. She has worked inside the Capitol for the WV Environmental Council, Our Children’s Trust, WV Citizen Action Group, and the WV Women’s Alliance.
Vote Valentine. Not Anders.
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This article is reprinted from a Spirit of Jefferson Commentary, October 22, 2026 and Letter to the Editor in The Martinsburg Journal, October 21, 2026
